The UK government has announced changes to it’s travel rules which will come into force at 4am BST on Sunday. The green, amber and red travel list provides the regulations for travellers arriving into the UK, depending on which country they arrive from. Yesterday the UK government updated the list for arrivals to England, moving some countries from amber to green and others from amber to red. The other UK nations will make their own decisions on whether to follow England’s latest changes.
1. Green list updates
Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Romania and Norway were all added to the green list meaning there are now 36 countries on the green list. However 16 of these, including Caribbean islands, Croatia, Malta, Israel and Taiwan are on the “green watchlist”, meaning they could be suddenly moved to the amber list. Australia and New Zealand are both green however neither of these countries currently allow British travellers.
2. Amber and amber plus list updates
France, which was previously the only country with amber plus status meaning all travellers, not just those not fully vaccinated, had to self-isolate for 10 days upon return, was downgraded to the amber list. India, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also joined the amber list after being downgraded from the red list, meaning arrivals will no longer have to spend 11 nights in a quarantine hotel. Despite speculation and fears in the travel industry that Spain could be added to the red list, the country stayed on the amber list.
3. Red list updates
Mexico, Georgia and the French overseas territories of La Reunion and Mayotte joined the red list, and the government significantly increased the price of hotel quarantine required on return from a red list country. From 12th August the cost will increase from £1,750 to £2,285, and for an adult sharing a room the price will increase from £650 to £1,430.
4. Rules for arrivals in the UK from abroad
For arrivals coming from green list countries nobody has to self-isolate. However everyone must complete a passenger locator form, take a Covid-19 test before travelling to England and have proof of a negative result (children aged 10 and under do not need to take this test), and book a test for day two after arrival in England (children aged four and under do not need to take these). It is only necessary to self-isolate if your day two test is positive, you develop symptoms or NHS Test & Trace says you’ve travelled with someone who tested positive.
For people coming from amber list countries, everyone must complete a passenger locator form, however adults who have been fully vaccinated in the UK, the US and most European countries don’t have to self-isolate upon arrival. Everyone (excluding children aged 10 and under) must take a Covid test three days before arrival to England, and test again two days after arriving (excluding children aged four and under). Those arriving in England from Spain are urged to use a PCR test for the first of those two tests as a precaution against a rise in Covid cases in the country. PCR tests are more accurate than lateral flow or antigen tests. For those who are not fully vaccinated, it is necessary to quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days and take a third COVID-19 test on or after day 8.
Red-list countries are those the UK government says present the highest Covid risk, and should not be visited “except in the most extreme of circumstances”. You can only enter the UK from red list countries if you are a UK or Irish national, or UK resident. Regardless of your vaccination status everyone must complete a passenger locator form, take a Covid-19 test before departure and have proof of a negative result, and self-isolate for 10 days in a government-approved quarantine hotel, booked and paid for in advance. The increase in prices means this will cost: 10 days (11-nights) for one adult is £2,285, an additional adult (or child over 11) is £1,430 and children aged five to 11 are £325.
Rules vary slightly between the different UK nations, rules and the full travel list can be consulted here.
